In partnership with Azimuth Builders and Wilco Disposal, a new pilot project has demonstrated that a significant portion of construction waste can be diverted from the landfill through practical, on-site sorting and material recovery.
“Phase I of the Pop-Up Landfill Pilot Project focused on finding ways to recover and recycle materials that would typically be thrown away,” said Wasan Jema, Environmental Specialist and Project Lead. “With construction and demolition activities accounting for approximately 45 per cent of landfill waste, it is important for the Town to find new ways to reduce what ends up in the landfill.”
The pilot achieved a 21 per cent diversion rate, keeping nearly one-quarter of construction waste out of the landfill. The project also identified opportunities to increase diversion rates to more than 50 per cent through improved sorting practices and operational adjustments.
“We're taking what we learned from the pilot and turning it into practical tools that can be used on future construction projects,” said Jema. “This includes developing best practices and providing recommendations that make construction waste diversion easier to implement and scale across Okotoks and potentially other municipalities.”
Beyond the environmental benefits, the pilot demonstrated that on-site sorting can be integrated into construction projects without disrupting work and may help reduce disposal costs over time through better material separation.
"Azimuth Builders was excited to be part of this pilot project," said James Savage, Vice-President, Business Development. "We enjoy taking on challenges that push the construction industry forward, so testing a new approach to construction waste diversion was a natural fit. It was great to see that sustainability and practical construction can go hand in hand without adding unnecessary cost or complexity. We're grateful for the opportunity to help prove what can be achieved when industry and municipalities work together."
Building on the success of Phase I, future projects will expand into the residential construction sector. Upcoming phases will work with builders in Okotoks and explore opportunities with neighbouring municipalities to identify practices that can be scaled across both commercial and residential construction projects.
The initiative supports local sustainability goals, waste reduction efforts and the transition toward a more circular economy, it also advances objectives outlined in the Town’s Corporate Business Plan, Environmental Master Plan and Climate Action Plan.
Builders and developers interested in participating in future construction waste diversion initiatives are encouraged to contact the Town to learn more about upcoming opportunities: okotoks.ca/environment-sustainability